Do you enjoy gardening, but maybe your body doesn’t enjoy the effort that it takes to pursue your hobby on the ground? Raised bed gardening can be very productive without taking such a toll on your body.
Raised beds come in many varieties, all of which bring the surface of the garden above ground level, closer to the gardener. Materials such as wood, stone, concrete blocks and corrugated metal roofing are used as walls to contain the soil. These walls can be any height you choose, from 12 to 36 inches above the ground.
The advantages are many, but with taller beds, accessibility is probably the greatest. There is no need to bend or squat to reach the garden surface during planting, weeding or harvesting crops. Soil warms up earlier in the spring, allowing you to plant sooner, extending the growing season. Because you never walk on the bed, there is no need to till because soil compaction becomes a non-issue.
Soil quality is easier to maintain because you choose what to put into the bed, and it stays there. There is no runoff during rainstorms and fewer weeds because the soil is brought in without weed seeds.
Disadvantages are the initial cost of materials to build the beds as well as the soil used to fill them. If you buy garden soil in bulk, it will be much less costly, and you can reduce the amount of soil needed by filling the lower half of the bed with rotting logs, leaves and other organic matter. These materials will decompose beneath the garden soil, producing nutrients that help plants grow. Two inches of compost added to the top of the bed every year will keep the soil healthy and productive.
Getting a soil test after the beds are filled is a must. Initially, the soil may be low in nitrogen. This is due to the fact that the initial breakdown of the logs and other organic matter below the soil robs the soil of nitrogen. Once you begin adding nitrogen to the soil on a regular basis, things will balance out, earthworms will make their way into the soil through the open bottom of the bed, and you will have a fine growing medium for years to come!
So if you enjoy growing vegetables, but your back needs a break, try raised beds. It will improve your gardening experience!
